A few of these things are not like the others.

In the sea of more than 17,000 American flags placed in Vicksburg National Cemetery, keen observers will notice an Australian flag placed in front of one grave and two First National Confederate flags waving proudly before two others.

Edgar H. Hawther of the Royal Australian Air Force is the only foreign soldier buried in the national cemetery, and for Memorial Day weekend when the country is commemorating the sacrifices of American soldiers, the Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star and the Southern Cross gets planted at the foot of his grave.

“It’s really kind of odd that you would see that,” said David Maggio, a licensed battlefield guide and one of about 50 people who volunteered to place flags in the cemetery Friday.

The other oddity about Hawther’s tombstone is that it placed directly next to that of Wilson C. Carter of Jackson. Both men died Oct. 16, 1942, in a plane crash in the Pacific. They are buried in the same grave.

“By the time they found the remains it was just skeletal remains. They contacted the family and they said just bury them together,” Maggio said.

First National Confederate flags will be flying this weekend over the graves of Pvt. Reuben White of the 19th Texas Infantry and Sgt. C.B. Brantley of the 12th Arkansas Sharpshooters.

Both died in Union hospitals and were mistakenly buried in the cemetery. The majority of the Confederate casualties from the Siege of Vicksburg are buried in city-owned Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Wreath-laying ceremonies are set for Monday at both cemeteries.

“I’ve got visitors coming out and I’m brining in a tour off one of the boats,” Maggio said.

They’re coming in Monday and I told them wait until you see it, it’s going to be amazing,” Maggio said of the decorated cemetery and ceremonies.

Though he had been interested in the park for years, Maggio said it was his first time placing flags on soldiers’ graves.

He wasn’t the only first-timer who gathered at the USS Cairo Friday for the service project.

“We’re calling it a patriotism project,” said Mike Dorsett, exalted ruler for the local Elks Lodge.

Placing American flags on graves is a continuation of the Elks’ ongoing service to veterans, Doresett said. The Elks have a long history of supporting veterans and were behind the push to have Flag Day recognized as a national holiday. The local lodge hadn’t participated in placing flags in the cemetery before.

“This is the first year I know of, but we would like to make it a regular thing,” Dorrsett said as his 12-year-old grandson Brady Crouch helped him place flags.

Sydnie Smith, 15, came with a friend to volunteer. They arrived early and placed dozens of flags in a section of the cemetery containing unknown soldiers.

“I like helping with stuff around town,” Smith said.

Of the more than 17,000 Civil War soldiers buried in the cemetery, the vast majority — about three quarters — are unknown graves.

State Rep. Oscar Denton volunteered to place flags, but his reason was more personal.

“Both my parents are buried here,” Denton said.

Denton’s father, World War II veteran Oscar Denton Sr., died in 1956, and his mother, died about 21 years ago.

“I have more time to do this now than when I was working for the phone company,” Denton said.

Vicksburg National Cemetery was established in 1866 and the first burials took place in 1867.

Soldiers buried there had originally been buried in scattered locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The cemetery remained open for burial of veterans and their spouses until 1961.

Though the cemetery has been closed for more than 50 years, a handful of people remain who are eligible for burial there.